Thirteen breeding pairs of white storks in Denmark have fledged 46 chicks this year, the highest number recorded since 1985, marking a milestone in the species' recovery after it was declared extinct as a breeding bird in the country in 2008.
Among the notable developments, the island of Ærø hosted breeding storks for the first time in 119 years, producing two chicks after the hen briefly abandoned the nest before returning a day later to resume care.
Conservationists tracking the population have set a target of 30 breeding pairs by 2030, according to Storkene.dk, a Danish stork monitoring group. The white stork, once a common sight across the Danish countryside, saw its population dwindle to the point of local extinction before gradual recolonisation efforts gained traction in recent years.